Inquiries of Pedagogical Shifts and Critical Mindsets Among Educators - Aaron R. Gierhart - Bog

Pedagogical research faces a challenge in acknowledging and integrating the valuable insights provided by narrative inquiries, particularly those centered around educators' tipping points. Despite the richness of these narratives in understanding pedagogy, there exists a bias towards traditional, quantitative research methods, leading to limited recognition and acceptance of qualitative studies. This lack of acceptance poses a barrier to leveraging the authentic experiences of educators for designing effective professional development and teacher education opportunities. The key challenges include the undervaluation of narrative inquiries, concerns about generalizability, the need to balance authenticity with research rigor, and the restricted influence on professional development due to the limited integration of narratives into the research base. Addressing these challenges is crucial for fostering a more holistic understanding of pedagogical development and improving the quality of teacher education. Inquiries of Pedagogical Shifts and Critical Mindsets Among Educators delves into unexplored pedagogy through a compendium of original research studies. The focus is on narrative inquiries, case studies, and phenomenological investigations, offering a nuanced understanding of pedagogical shifts and critical mindsets among P-16 educators. Inspired by Novoa's conceptualization of "Tipping Points," the book unfolds the narratives and lived experiences that propel educators toward transformative shifts in their teaching methodologies.